Herons Exec. Chef among national culinary sensations at 'Euphoria' in Greenville, SC

Chef Scott Crawford among the locals. (Photo: Heron's)

By Kathy M. Newbern & J.S. Fletcher © 2009

Our lucky neighbors to the South are in for a treat at this year's Euphoria food-wine-music event in Greenville, SC: Scott Crawford, the new executive chef at Herons in The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary is among the visiting guest chefs.

For those of you who haven't had the opportunity yet to sample Chef Crawford's fine fare, there's a special local event first. So you can attend it, and then hurry on down to Greenville.

Chef Crawford is offering a $20, three-course pix fixe Market Menu Lunch through Aug. 31 at Heron's  11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. daily; wine pairings can be added for $12 more. Call 919.447.4200 for reservations.

The Market Menu features the chef's finds from local farms like Elodie and Cane Creek. Or, try an evening five-course Chef's Tasting Menu at Heron's for $70.

And if you love great food and wine, plus music, plan to attend this year's fourth annual Euphoria in neighboring Greenville, SC, with an outstanding line-up of guest chefs September 17-20, 2009.

Organizers promise a weekend packed with tastings, live music, and educational seminars and demos.

Here's this year's highlights:

• Thursday, Sept. 17 - Exclusive songwriter event at The Lazy Goat where Edwin McCain and other musicians will sit in a round table atmosphere and play acoustic while discussing the process of songwriting.

• Friday, Sept. 18, - "Taste of the South" featuring Southern dishes, wine and beer, and live music by Edwin McCain and friends. A VIP party will follow at Zen with more live music, food and drink.

• Saturday, Sept. 19 - Tasting Showcase where guests taste dozens of wines paired with culinary delights from around the world. There will also be culinary demonstrations, wine seminars and live music.

• Saturday night wine dinners are held throughout Downtown Greenville, where guest chefs and wine makers team up with the local chefs and serve multi-course dinners paired with wines.

The 2009 Guest Chef lineup includes:

• Guy and Franck Savoy - Restaurant Guy Savoy in Las Vegas

• Tyler Brown  - Executive Chef, Capital Grille at The Hermitage Hotel, Nashville, TN

• Scott Crawford  - Executive Chef from right here in the Triangle, at the head-turning Herons in The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary, NC

• Tim Graham -  Executive Chef, Tru, Chicago, IL

• David Guas -  Pastry Chef / Owner, Bayou Bakery, Alexandria, VA

• Michael Kramer -  Executive Chef, Voice Restaurant, Houston, TX

• Michael Paley  - Executive Chef, Proof on Maine, Louisville, KY

• Kent Rathbun  - Chef, Abacus & Jaspers, Dallas, TX

• Kevin Rathbun  - Chef / Owner, Rathbun’s, Kevin Rathbun Steak, & Krog Bar, Atlanta, GA

• Frank Stitt  - Executive Chef, Highlands Bar & Grill & Bottega, Birmingham, AL

• Rick Tramonto  - Chef Partner, Tru, Chicago, IL

Euphoria concludes Sunday, Sept. 20 with an outdoor Jazz brunch buffet featuring dozens of New Orleans-style dishes and live jazz. The weekend wraps with a Culinary Cook-off where chefs compete in a live cooking demonstration.

About Euphoria

Euphoria seeks to present a first-class, multi-day event for food, wine, and music lovers that raises significant funds for charities while also promoting tourism and enhancing the reputation of Greenville, South Carolina, as a premiere culinary and performing arts destination.

Euphoria is organized and presented by the non-profit Local Boys Do Good (“LBDG”), and all net proceeds are distributed by LBDG through direct grants to other charities – mostly in upstate South Carolina –  that focus on providing sustenance to those in need (food, hunger, and health), educating (through music, performing arts, or otherwise), or supporting children.  The amount Euphoria has raised for charities has increased in each of its first three years.  Since its inception in 2006, LBDG has received more than 100 grant applications and requests.

Luxury Travel Examiner Kathy M. Newbern and husband, J.S. Fletcher, report on luxury destinations, spas and cruising around the globe. They are award-winning members of the Society of American Travel Writers, and operate their personalized romance novel business based in Raleigh, where they let you star in your own romance.